Childers, former champion with Harvick, new Xfinity team boss for JR Motorsports

Rodney Childers Finds New Home at JR Motorsports

Rodney Childers, known for leading Kevin Harvick to the 2014 Cup Series championship, has secured a new position after leaving Spire Motorsports in April. Childers will assume the crew chief role at JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, specifically for the No. 1 Chevrolet, which will be shared by Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch. This will be the first time Childers serves as a crew chief in the Xfinity Series.

“Rodney’s resume and career speak for themselves,” commented Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports. “Rodney and I grew up together and have known each other since we were kids. That’s a relationship that has always been close and still is. We have always had an interest in working together in motorsports, and I am grateful that this opportunity came up and we could bring him into the JRM family.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Childers previously worked with Justin Haley at Spire, but the team and he parted ways when the relationship, according to both parties, didn’t work out. During his time with Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing, Childers achieved 40 victories and a Cup title. In 2024, after Harvick’s retirement, he worked with Josh Berry.

NASCAR and Jusan Hamilton: End of an Era

In related news, NASCAR confirmed the departure of Jusan Hamilton, race director, with six races remaining to finish the season. Currently, Hamilton is no longer listed as a NASCAR employee, where his official title was general manager of competition operations. Hamilton began his career in NASCAR as an intern in 2012 and returned in 2016, performing various roles. He oversaw NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, the development of pit crews, and the NASCAR iRacing divisions, in addition to his role as race director. Hamilton was fundamental in the elaboration of the annual calendar and the program for each race weekend. His debut as race director was in 2018 at Pocono Raceway. In 2022, Hamilton made history by becoming the first black race director to officiate the Daytona 500.